WEEI Will No Longer Broadcast Celtics Games; WBZ-FM A Likely Contender For Rights

Entercom Communications, whose WRKO-AM and WEEI-FM stations in the Boston market have aired Celtics games since '05, will "no longer broadcast the team’s games, as the sides were unable to agree to a new contract," according to Chad Finn of the BOSTON GLOBE. It is "uncertain at this time which station will carry Celtics games in the 2013-14 season, but an announcement is expected soon." Sources said that Boston-based WBZ-FM is a "significant player for the Celtics rights." Greater Media, which owns five stations in the Boston market, also has "expressed interest in Celtics broadcasts in the past." But no matter "where on the dial the Celtics land, expect to hear the same broadcast team." Play-by-play voice Sean Grande and analyst Cedric Maxwell were "hired by the team, rather than the station that broadcasts the games." Entercom and the Celtics had a "revenue-sharing agreement in their deal" and it is "uncertain whether a rights fee was involved as well" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/21). In Massachusetts, Nick O'Malley wrote the change comes as "just the latest in a string of drastic moves for WEEI" following the firing of Program Dir Jason Wolfe last week. Moving forward, it "appears WEEI's live game programming will be focused around its Red Sox broadcasts, though there has been no indication as to whether the station's regional college sports broadcasts will be affected" (MASSLIVE.com, 8/20).